Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- n. Music An instrumental composition intended especially as an introduction to an extended work, such as an opera or oratorio.
- n. Music A similar orchestral work intended for independent concert performance.
- n. An introductory section or part, as of a poem; a prelude.
- n. An act, offer, or proposal that indicates readiness to undertake a course of action or open a relationship.
- transitive v. To present as an introduction or proposal.
- transitive v. To present or make an offer or proposal to.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- An opening or aperture; a recess; a chamber.
- Disclosure; discovery; revelation.
- A proposal; an offer; a proposition formally submitted for consideration, acceptance, or rejection.
- A composition, for a full orchestra, designed as an introduction to an oratorio, opera, or ballet, or as an independent piece; -- called in the latter case a concert overture.
- transitive v. To make an overture to.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. An opening; an aperture; a hole.
- n. An open place.
- n. Opening; disclosure; discovery.
- n. In music, an orchestral movement properly serving as a prelude or introduction to an extended work, as an opera or oratorio.
- n. Something offered to open the way to some conclusion; something proposed for acceptance or rejection; a proposal: as, to make overtures of peace.
- n. Specifically Eccles., in Presbyterian church law, a formal proposal submitted to an ecclesiastical court.
- n. Synonyms Proposition, etc. See proposal.
- Eccles., to submit an overture to. See overture, n., 6.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- n. a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others
- n. orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
- n. something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
Etymologies
Examples
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William Tell overture is not "from the soundtrack for A Clockwork Orange", it is a piece of classical music composed by Rossini.
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Whether Syria's peace overture is rhetorical or real, there is no better time to put Damascus to the test.
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By the 18th century, composers were calling the overture to an opera, or an oratorio, the "sinfonia".
How the great symphonies became our soundtrack to a changing world
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This overture is still old politics, which some will embrace whole heartedly.
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Seligman likes charm a lot, I'm glad to say, and he knows well enough that this cunning overture is politely blind to the fact that neither of his ladies asked to have this contest arranged.
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ZAHN: Is that something the U.S. would welcome, this overture from the Germans?
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The "overture" - the missionary's initial bonding with Muslims via discussion of the Koran - is precision-engineered to undermine their allegiance to Islam.
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Although thick with irony -- President Reagan first proposed a missile shield in 1983 as a safeguard against the Soviets -- the overture was a clear attempt to ease Kremlin concerns that the antimissile system is targeted at Russia.
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" What people might not realize when they hear the overture, which is so very famous, is that Tchaikovsky cut the legs of the orchestra off, " he said.
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A popular choice is to start a concert with a short "curtain-raiser," such as an overture, which is often followed by a concerto with a star soloist, and then after an intermission, the "large" symphonic piece is played.
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